Every October, McCloud Nature Park in northwest Hendricks County, Indiana, bursts into brilliant fall colors and turns into a favorite destination for visitors and residents alike. To celebrate the beautiful fall foliage, Hendricks County Parks & Recreation hosts an annual Fall Colors Festival.
The 2024 Fall Colors Festival will take place at McCloud, just outside of North Salem, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 19. Since I work for Hendricks County Parks & Recreation, I have a pretty good idea of what you and your family can expect at this festival.
The Trees
Let's begin with the stars of this festival: the trees. Because of the wide variety of tree species within the park, McCloud Nature Park's fall foliage is quite spectacular in peak season.
Visit Indiana regards McCloud Nature Park as one of the best fall foliage spots in the state, and the park has held that distinction for years. Most recently, The Points Guy ranked McCloud Nature Park among the top destinations in the world to see beautiful fall foliage without the crowds.
Fun Activities
So now that you know why the Fall Colors Festival is so popular, what can you and your family enjoy while you're there?
We're keeping some of the traditionally popular activities such as throwing an ancient hunting weapon called an atlatl at a target, a historic apple cider press that festival-goers can try and a crackling campfire all day where you can roast up any hot dogs or marshmallows that you'd like to bring to the park.
Hay Rides
No fall festival is complete without a hay ride! So, for a nominal fee, enjoy riding along some of the most scenic trails at McCloud Nature Park.
Hay rides are held at the top and bottom of each hour during the festival, and each one lasts about 20 minutes. The rides are always popular, and there are only so many people we can safely fit into the wagon, so you'll want to find your way back to the McCloud Arboretum to purchase your tickets!
(Insider tip: Make sure to bring some cash for the hay ride, food trucks and vendors because cellular service at McCloud is too spotty for credit card machines to reliably work.)
McCloud Prairie Maze
Our Hendricks County Bicentennial-themed McCloud Prairie Maze will be open for the whole family to explore for free during the festival. Designed and constructed by park staff, the maze is cut into the park's 52-acre prairie, and the correct path results in a hike of about 2/3 of a mile.
You can find maps to help guide you through the maze at the Nature Center and at the maze entrance. You can also click here to download and print your own map before you head out to McCloud.
(Insider tip: Make sure the whole family is wearing closed-toe shoes that you don't mind getting dirty or muddy inside the maze. The stiff, dried tallgrass stalks don't feel real great when they meet unprotected toes in sandals or flip-flops.)
Fall Colors Run
Start your day at 8:30 a.m. with a 5K or 10K run/walk along the trails and through the fall foliage of McCloud Nature Park during the Fall Colors Run in this professionally-timed event. Registration is just $20 for the 5K and $30 for the 10K.
Once you're done with the Fall Colors Run, the Fall Colors Festival is right there ready for you to enjoy for the rest of your day!
